Fri Mar 14 10:47:28 UTC 2025: ## Former Chief Justice Highlights Secularism’s Crisis in India

**Chennai, March 14, 2025** – Former Madras High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah delivered a lecture in Chennai on Thursday, warning of a growing crisis in India’s secular fabric. The lecture, titled “Constitution, Secularism and the Supreme Court,” was organized by the Tamil Nadu Senior Advocates Forum.

Justice Shah argued that India’s secularism, unlike its Western counterparts, is intricately linked to social justice and equality. He highlighted the views of social reformer E.V. Ramasamy (“Periyar”), emphasizing Periyar’s approach to secularism as a tool for challenging oppressive social norms and religious dogmas. He contrasted this with the Constituent Assembly’s focus on state neutrality and religious freedom.

The former Chief Justice expressed concern over rising religious extremism, communal tensions, and the politicization of faith. He stressed the importance of revisiting the core values of secularism and the constitutional framework designed to navigate the complexities of state impartiality and religious freedom. He cited the 1994 S.R. Bommai case, which upheld secularism as a fundamental aspect of the Constitution, a judgment he believes is often overlooked.

Justice Shah critiqued several Supreme Court judgments, including those related to the Hindutva ideology and the Ayodhya verdict. He questioned the controversial equation of Hindutva with Hinduism in a previous judgment, arguing that it ignored the territorial definition of Hindutva articulated by V.D. Savarkar. He also expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding a 116-page addendum to the Ayodhya verdict.

Furthermore, he raised concerns about the impact of recent cases such as the triple talaq and Karnataka hijab ban, stating that these cases threaten the nation’s soul and erode public trust. He called for the Supreme Court to play a more robust role in protecting secularism, advocating for a renewed commitment to constitutional principles and a rejection of divisive narratives. Justice Shah concluded by urging a focus on addressing pressing social issues like poverty and inequality instead of being consumed by historical grievances and religious disputes.

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